Movie Review: "The List"

It's not very often that one is able to find a suspense movie that doesn't have gore, language or sex in it. So I was pleasantly surprised to see that this movie had come out, offering the suspense without all the unnecessary additions.

Films set in the deep south always give an aura of creepiness. I think it's partially due to the history of the area and how deep family ties will run. Secret societies area also a good subject to focus on, as there is a lot of mysterious circumstances involving them. This movie blends both with a plot that stretches several generations all the way back to the Civil War. It's a very intriguing story that captures the viewer's attentions from the beginning and holds throughout the course of the movie. The acting was well done. It was nice to see familiar faces in different roles. I liked Hilarie Burton's character very much. She's mostly known for her role on One Tree Hill and from this role I hope she gets offered more movie roles.

While I did enjoy this movie there were several things about it that I felt could have improved the film. First I felt that Renny's accent was way over the top. Yes we all know that he's from the deep south, but why is he the only one that has such a strong accent? If you closed your eyes you could picture him alongside Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler. Second exactly where did the power from the book come from? It is never explained and then it just disappears. What exactly does Jo see on the Internet right before she falls ill? Also I felt that the movie kind of ends abruptly. I would have enjoyed seeing more of how Renny and Jo's relationship evolves.

I'm not sure how this movie compares with the book since I have not read the book by Robert Whitlow yet. I'm hoping that the book explains things more in detail as I said I felt like I was missing important info. All in all this was an enjoyable movie. It was produced quite well and had a mainstream flair going for it. If you are in the mood for a clean, good suspense movie then this is perfect for a Friday night movie night. It is recommended for older children and up (although if you are squeamish of blood there are a few scenes where you may want to close your eyes.)